Bridle bit



June 20, 1950 H. A. DE WOLFE BRIDLE BIT Filed Aug. 13, 1545 PatentedJune 20, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRIDLE Harvey A. De Wolfe,Costa Mesa, Calif.

A#napiuaation August 13, 1945, Serial No. 610,511

3 claims. (o1. 54-6) My invention relates to saddlery, with particularreference tobridles, and is directed to an mproved form of bridle bit.

My object in the design of these bits is to have more effective andhumane control of the horse-a bit that will prevent the horse fromthrowing the head and chomping the bit. With many of our finest horses,with the ordinary bits, the circulation is shut off, and pressure placedon nerves, until the horse loses all feeling in the lower jaw and thatcauses what is known as "cold jaw. With my bits, there is no cold jaw,but even coordinated movement and a well arched neck because the bit isconducive to collectiveness.

Referring by numerals and letters to the accompanying drawings,particularly to the construction illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4inelusive:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the basic form of construction withadjacent portions of a bridle in which it is to be incorporated;

Fig. 2 is front elevation with parts in section;

Fig. 3 is a back view of the shaft bit with the center section removedand with the center arched member connecting the shafts;

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the center arched member and the inside endof the shaft bit, indieating the tilt forward of the center archedmember.

In this bit the tilt of center arched member is about twenty-sevendegrees, but the tilt may be used as seems best. 'I'his center archedmember may be changed to include other features.

On the bridle bit shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 30 designates the side plateand lever arm as one member, I I the rocker arm, I 3 the bar bit havingits center cut out as designated by A, Fig. 2. The two parts |3-I3 ofthe shaft are connected by an arched member. l

This center arched member is arched forward and back as indicated byB--C and B-F Fig. 2, and D-C and D-F Fig. 3. I-I is the oval outsidesurface that goes against the roof of the horses mouth; Fig. 2 E showsthe oval inside surface of center arched member that the tongue restsagainst, Figs. 3 and 4. O is the opening where the tongue of the horsewill be protected. (See Figs. 2 and 3.)

Each of the side plates and lever arms 30 provides an aperture 3| at theupper end for headstall I4, and aperture 32 on the back side for curbstrap I6 that crosses under the lower jaw of the horse. The side pla-tesand lever arms extend down for aperture 33 for reins I1. Forward ofaperture 32 on the side plates and lever arms, the rocker arms II arepivotally mounted on bolt 28 in hole 21 and pass through bushing 34 thatis in hole 35 in the side plates and lever arms 30. Nose band I5 withfastenings 2| is attached to upper end of rocker arms II. On the lowerend of rocker arms II bar bit |3-I3 is rigidly fastened by key 25 andcap 26.

The action is as follows: A pull on reins I1 in aperture 33 in sideplates and lever arms 3U rotates the sideplates and lever arms puttingpressure on curb strap IG in aperture 32 and causes a forward movementof head stall I4 in aperture 3|, bringing pressure on spacer bearing 343in hole 35 in side plates and lever arms 3|] and hence on bolt 28 whichpasses through spacer bearing 34 and is fastened in hole 21 of rockerarms II.

The pressure is divided between the nose band I5 fastened to upper endof rocker arms |I by fastenings 2| and bar bit I3 with the center archedmember which is fastened securely by key 25 and cap 26 to the lower endof rocker arms II. Thus the pressure on nose band I5 and bar bit I3 withthe center arched member is equal to the pressure on the curb strap IIiin aperture 32, a straight forward and back pull.

For the purpose of disclosure and to illustrate the principles involved,I have described the preferred form of my invention in specific detail.The disclosure will suggest to those skilled in the art various changesand modifications that do not depart from the spirit of my concept. Ispecifically reserve the right to all such changes and modificationsthat properly come within the scope of my appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bit, two aligned members connected by a central arched member,combined side plates and lever arms, and rocker arms pivotally carriedby said combined side plates and lever arms,

each face of the arched member being forwardly and rearwardly arcuatewhereby to insure smooth action and said arched member having an oval,tilted, top portion to engage the roof of the mouth of a horse, thespace between the ends of the aligned members and below the archedmember protecting the tongue of the horse, the outer ends of the alignedmembers being fixed to the lower part of each of said rocker arms, theupper and forward end of each of the rocker arms carrying a nose bandthat crosses the nose of a horse above the nostrils, each of saidcombined side plates and lever arms having an upwardly extending,apertured portion for connection with a bridle head stall, a rearwardlyextending, apertured portion for the connection of a curb strap thatcrosses under the lower jaw of a horse, and a downwardly extending,apertured portion to receive the bridle reins.

2. In a bit, a side plate and lever arm, said side plate and lever armhaving an aperture at the top for a headstall of a bridle and having alower, rearwardly extending aperture for a curb strap that passes underthe jaw of a horse, said side plate and lever arm extending downwardlyand having an aperture for reins at the lower end, and a rocker armpivotally secured to said side plate and lever arm, the upper andforward end of the rocker arm being adapted to carry a nose band thatcrosses the nose of a horse above the nostrils, said rocker arm alsohaving a mouthpiece receiving portion on the lower end.

3. In a bit, a mouthpiece comprising two aligned members connected by acentral arched member, each face of the arched member being forwardlyand rearwardly arcuate whereby to insure smooth action and said archedmember having an oval, tilted, top portion to engage the roof of themouth of a horse, .the space between the ends of the aligned members andbelow the arch member protecting the tongue.

HARVEY A. DE WOLFE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

